Accountant

Join us now to be part of the vital force in protecting and enhancing our National Park. We as a National Park Authority play a crucial role in tackling the twin challenges of the Global Climate Emergency and Nature Crisis.

Job Title: Accountant
Location: Head Office is Balloch, with hybrid working model in place
Salary: £33,622 – £40,473 (Band D) per annum
Hours: 35 hours per week, with flexible options available – we are happy to talk part time and flexible working
Status: Permanent

Do you have experience in management accounting and budgeting?  Then we want to hear from you!

Our Finance and Procurement Team within Corporate Services is responsible for all of the financial processes within the organisation and ensures that our Executive and Board have effective financial reporting for informed decision making.  We are looking for a collaborative and enthusiastic individual to join our small team.

The Role:

You will be part of the team responsible for the delivery of budgets, forecasting, management information and statutory accounts, as well as providing support for the main finance functions.

You will have experience of financial practices and have had responsibility for the delivery and improvement of financial information. In addition, this experience should be underpinned by a working knowledge of financial systems, including an understanding of nominal ledger coding structures.

Responsibilities:

• Preparation of monthly management accounts and financial reporting to managers, the Executive, the Board and Board Committees, including commentary and variance analysis
• Completion and submission of monthly budget monitoring reports to the Scottish Government
• Act as business partner with budget holders.  Preparation, profiling and monitoring of budgets (salary budget/ team budgets/ organisational level budgets).
• Assist in the development of new reporting from our finance system
• Support the preparation of the annual statutory accounts and liaise with External Audit
• Review, interpret and advise on statutory and regulatory changes in public body financial accounting and determine appropriate changes in internal policies, controls and financial accounting to comply with statutory requirements and best practice.
• Provide financial advice, guidance and support to the organisation to support business needs
• Prepare and assist with the documentation of policies, procedures and controls.

Who we are looking for:

Your skills, abilities and experience should include:

• Qualified/ Part Qualified accountant with significant hands-on experience
• Experience of preparing and presenting management accounts, budgets and forecasts;
• Ability to extract data from finance systems for reporting purposes;
• Working knowledge of financial systems including nominal ledger coding structures;
• Experience of month-end processes including variance analysis and reconciliations;
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, with the ability to quickly build relationships;
• Intermediate Excel skills;
• An outcome focused approach, with ability to meet deadlines.

Ideally, but not essential, you’ll also have:

• Experience of preparing end of year statutory accounts, liaising with internal and external auditors;
• Experience of working within a finance unit in a public sector environment (ideally NDPB);
• Experience of analysing reports/systems/working practices to identify potential improvements
• Experience of reviewing, applying and implementing changes in accounting standards and guidance to an organisation;
• Knowledge and understanding of Scottish Public Finance Manual (SPFM) and Financial Reporting Manual (FReM);
• Advanced Excel skills;
• Bank payment processing including use of appropriate software;
• Experience of developing, writing and implementing policies.

How to apply:

If you are interested in this role, complete your application by 9^th February 2023 @ 9am.

• Access our application form on our job board – https://lochlomondthetrossachsorg.peoplehr.net/Pages/JobBoard/Opening.aspx?v=836170f8-ffc9-4abe-bc59-0f48dd31a59f
• Interviews will be virtual
• Interview dates are set for: w/c 20^th February

Who we are and our values:

We offer flexible and remote working, with a generous pension scheme and annual leave allowance. Staff have access to wellbeing services and there is a strong focus on wellbeing throughout the organisation.

Being part of Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park Authority means being passionate about what you do, working hard to inspire and lead the way for others. We care about each other and are accessible and friendly treating each other with respect and understanding, we think about our planet with each decision we make. Together, we are the difference.

Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park Authority are proud to celebrate difference. Diversity of experience is vital in our success we want our business to be representative to the communities we work alongside.  As an equal opportunity employer, we actively encourage applicants from a wide range of individuals, irrespective of age, disability, gender reassignment, gender identity and expression, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.